The Epistles of St. Peter. By Prof. RAWSON LUMBY, D.D. SEVENTH SERIES, 1893-4. 2 Kings. By Very Rev. the Dean of Canterbury. Romans. By H. C. G. MOULE, M.A., D.D. The Books of Chronicles. By Prof. W. H. BENNETT, M.A., B.D. 2 Corinthians. By JAMES DENNEY, D.D. Numbers. By R. A. WATSON, M.A., D.D. The Psalms. By A. MACLAREN, D.D. Vol. III. EIGHTH SERIES 1895-6. Daniel. By Ven. Archdeacon FARRAR. The Book of Jeremiah. By Prof. W. H. BENNETT, M.A., B.D. Deuteronomy. By Prof. ANDREW HARPER, B.D. The Song of Solomon and Lamentations. By Prof. W. F. ADENEY, M.A. Ezekiel. By Prof. JOHN SKINNER, M.A. The Minor Prophets. By Prof. G. A. SMITH, D.D. Two Vols. THE EPISTLES OF ST. JOHN _TWENTY-ONE DISCOURSES_ With Greek Text, Comparative Versions, and Notes Chiefly Exegetical BY WILLIAM ALEXANDER D.D., D.C.L. OXON., HON. LL.D. DUBLIN BRASENOSE COLLEGE, OXFORD LORD BISHOP OF DERRY AND RAPHOE _FOURTH EDITION_ London HODDER AND STOUGHTON 27, PATERNOSTER ROW MDCCCXCVI Hujus scriptis illustratur, Illustrata solidatur Unitas Ecclesiæ. ADAM OF ST. VICTOR _Seq._ xxxi. (_S. Johannes Evangelista_). PREFACE. It is now many years ago since I entered upon a study of the Epistles of St. John, as serious and prolonged as was consistent with the often distracting cares of an Irish Bishop. Such fruit as my labours produced enjoyed the advantage of appearing in the last volume of the _Speaker's Commentary_ in 1881. Since that period I have frequently turned again to these Epistles--subsequent reflection or study not seldom filling in gaps in my knowledge, or leading me to modify former interpretations. When invited last year to resume my old work, I therefore embraced willingly the opportunity which was presented to me. Let me briefly state the method pursued in this book. I. The First Part contains four Discourses. (1) In the first Discourse I have tried to place the reader in the historical surroundings from which (unless all early Church history is unreal, a past that never was present) these Epistles emanated.